Chapter 1: Oral Language

We are hard-wired to learn to talk, but reading is a skill that needs to be acquired through some type of direct instruction. The words we know because of conversation, and the sounds we hear, help us become readers, though, so oral language is a very important skill to consider. It is through talking with more skilled people that children begin to define unfamiliar words, and link together the definitions of associated words. Even conversations that seem unimportant can be very valuable down the line, when your child is trying to comprehend a passage or story. Other aspects of language, like syntax and pragmatic skills, are also acquired through exposure. There are too many nuances of the English language to learn through direct instruction and rules. Children learn about language through exposure, and most exposure happens at home.